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"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

The first song of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Riverside Theatre is A Comedy Tonight.

That is as much of an opening song as it is a promise and Riverside has always delivered on its promises.
With the brilliant comedic talents of Dana Snyder, Stephen Burger and Patrick Richwood this show could be nothing more than hysterical.

Set in Ancient Rome, Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart wrote a play that incorporated slavery, prostitution and virginity and made it so humorous that the audience could not get enough. The performers at Riverside Theatre were a pure delight and kept the jokes tight and funny and as good as the original on stage and screen. The songs were also so funny and fantastically performed.

Dana Snyder's performance as Pseudolus, the slave who was angling for his freedom by catching a courtesan for his master's son, was impeccable. Channeling his predecessors Phil Silvers and Nathan Lane, his scenes filled with lustful conniving to get the next door prostitutes; sneaky maneuverings, and deadpan quips were spot on. Each scene in which he appeared was professional and oh so funny.

By the same token, the slave Patrick Richwood was as much a highlight of the show as was Snyder. Richwood, (who was the quietly funny elevator operator in the movie, Pretty Woman), took every scene in which he played the household's head slave Hysterium.

Richwood's double takes and "hysteria" when he realizes that Pseudolus is trying to set up the master's son, Hero, (Skyler Adams) with the next door's courtesan, Philia (Kimberly Doreen Burns) is laugh out loud brilliant. When he is convinced by Pseudolus to dress in drag and pretend to be a dead bride it is by far one of the funniest scenes in the play.

Two veteran actors, Stephen Burger as the poor put upon husband Seneca and Ron Wisniski as the flesh peddler Marcus Lycus, also deliver standout performances.

Berger's lustful advances on his son's crush who she believes is the Captain who owns her contract is perfectly executed. He will have you laughing along with his delusion that she wants him to "take" her.
Wisniski reminds me of the crazy character, Jim, in the TV show Taxi, with his sideway looks and rough voice. Very funny, very talented and making it all look easy.
Everyone in the cast is really outstanding. Karen Murphy, playing the shrew wife, delivers a belting singing voice and fantastic over the top shrillness. The pompous Captain, Jared Faubel, wins the crowd with his over the top vanity. And the eccentric neighbor, Chet Carlin, has some of the funniest walk through scenes ever done anywhere.

Finally, the three Proteans, Nikko Kimzin, Xander Chauney and Ryan Dietz, are hysterically crossed over from playing the whorehouse's eunuchs to the Roman guards, sometimes within seconds of each other.

Loved this play, adored the professional quality of the performers, laughed until my side hurt and would definitely recommend seeing this show at Riverside Theatre to anyone I know.

Riverside Childrens Theatre's Upcoming shows are featured in the hyperlink to the right.